Protect the Pride: Get Vaxxed
April 26, 2021
Dear LMU Community:
As we prepare to reopen our campuses safely and responsibly, we are confident that vaccinations are essential to our community’s health and our return to in-person learning, living, and co-curricular activities in the fall. Following the recommendations of the CDC, LMU will require that all students coming to our campuses be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall semester. We will allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis for students with qualifying medical or religious reasons. Where exceptions are granted, the university may require additional COVID-19 testing, social and access restrictions, quarantining, and other requirements or limitations. Please note that vaccine requirements are not new: the university also mandates vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella.
We reached this decision through a discernment process that considered several factors, including:
- consensus from federal, state, and local public health authorities based on scientific evidence that demonstrates vaccinating against COVID-19 is the surest way to attain herd immunity and health benefits that contribute to the health and safety of our communities;
- concerns and recommendations from students, parents, faculty, and staff;
- stable vaccine supplies and broad availability of clinics in the United States;
- our understanding that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expediting formal vaccine approval;
- implementation of similar requirements by many colleges, universities, and educational institutions across the state and nation; and
- our continued adherence to our values, which call upon us, as persons living for and with others, to protect each other’s health and well-being.
We will assist students who may be unable to access vaccines, including international students. Please note that students are not required to use LMU’s vaccination clinic; we advise students to schedule vaccinations at first-available locations.
In the meantime, we invite our local LMU community members to sign up for an appointment at the LMU Vaccination Center (the last day for a first dose appointment at the LMU clinic is April 30) or anywhere in L.A. County or L.A. City. In early May, we will share more details about our vaccination policy and its implementation. Also, we will soon provide further guidance concerning vaccinations for faculty and staff.
The sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner we can end the pandemic and regain our communal college experiences. Thank you for your continuing efforts to #ProtectthePride and return to our beautiful campuses for the LMU experience we all long for and deserve.
With gratitude,
Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.
President
Thomas Poon, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost